"Peggy my thoughts are with you at this time. Roger was an amazing person and I was very fond of him. Love Val"
In loving memory of
Roger Wallace Mabie
May 27, 1917 - April 6, 2008
Roger Wallace Mabie, age 90, of River Road, Port Ewen, NY died Sunday, April 6, 2008 at Kingston Hospital of Kingston, NY. Mr. Mabie was born May 27, 1917 in Port Ewen, NY. The son of the late Wallace and the late Lillian Zimmerman Mabie. He married Margaret "Peggy" Scanlon on July 12, 1952 at NYC.
A life long resident of Port Ewen, Graduate of Kingston High School, class of 1933. He began attending high school at the age of 12, and graduated at the age of 16. He then did post graduate studies at Kingston High School in preparation for college. While doing his post graduate high school studies, he was manager of the football team and was the high school sports reporter employed by the Freeman. To help pay for his schooling and save for college, he had been a Fuller Brush salesman, worked in the local orchards and at the YMCA.
Graduate of Syracuse University, class of 1940. Very active in student life, he was president of his senior class, manager of the football team and was on the crew team. During his summers while attending Syracuse University he worked on the Hudson River Day Line as a crew member.
In 1940 he was accepted at the Harvard School of Business. He chose though to enter the Naval Officer Training Program in the fall of 1941 prior to the start of WW II. He was commissioned as an Ensign, and with the outbreak of WW II was assigned as Captain of a sub chaser in charge of 64 crew members. He was then assigned as Captain of a Patrol Craft Escort in charge of 110. He saw duty in the Atlantic and Pacific Theater of Operations. At the end of the war, he had attained the rank of Lt. Commander.
After WW II, he had to reapply to the Harvard Business School and entered the school in 1947, graduating in 1949. The Harvard Business School class of 1949 has been regarded as one of finest in the schools history based on the corporate, personnel and civic leadership of the class.
His love for the area brought him back to Port Ewen and he went to work for the Island Dock Ship Yard as general manager. With the changes in ship building, he developed a business plan to build fiberglass pleasure boats. In the early 60's he went to work for Central Hudson, initially in charge of promoting the electric heat program. He retired from Central Hudson in 1983 as Director of Community Relations.
He started his political life in the late 50's. He served his initial term as supervisor of the Town of Esopus for ten years, was then a county legislator and in the early 80's served another 6 years as town of Esopus Supervisor. He served as Supervisor for a total of 16 years . He was the last person to serve as minority leader of the old board of supervisors and was the first minority leader of the Ulster County Legislature.
He was on the board of Trustees of Kingston Savings Bank and Albany Savings Bank.
Life long member of the Town of Esopus United Methodist Church, he had been chairman of the finance committee
Past President and member of the Ulster County Community College Board of Trustees, he had been very active in starting the college
One of the founders and past president of the Klyne Esopus Museum,
One of the founders and Past President of the Hudson River Maritime Center
Past Commander and member of the Town of Esopus American Legion Post # 1298
Past President and member of the Steamship Historical Society
Active member of the Democratic Party
He is survived by his wife: Margaret "Peggy"(Scanlon) Mabie, two sons: William Mabie of Vineyard Haven, MA and Christopher Mabie of Port Ewen, NY; two nephews Dr. William S. Birkhead and the late Robert Birkhead.
The family will receive their friends on Wednesday, April 9 from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at Keyser Funeral Service, Inc., 216 Broadway, Port Ewen, NY.
The funeral will be 11:00 am on Thursday, April 10 at Town Of Esopus United Methodist Church, PO Box 699, Green & Main St., Port Ewen, NY
Memorials may be made to Klyne Esopus Museum, P.O. Box 180, Ulster Park, NY 12487 or Town Of Esopus United Methodist Church, PO Box 699, Green & Main St., Port Ewen, NY 12466 or Hudson River Maritime Center, 50 ROndout Landing, Kingston, NY 12401 .
Tributes
"my thoughts are with you all "
"Sorry to hear of Roger's passing. He was a very kind, gentle, yet firm man. It was a pleasure, and an honor, seeing him at my Father's visitation in January, 2005. Dad gave me his copy of "Town of Esopus Story" before he passed which Roger produced. What wonderful memories it has for me! I remember many days siting in the Port Ewen Town Hall, listening to all the "goings-on" that my Dad, Roger and Emily Card presented. Someone once said: "A life well lived will always be Remembered and Treasured", so let this be with Roger. My condolences to Mrs. Mabie and the rest of the family. My family will be praying for your peace and comfort during this difficult time. Paul G. Mercier, Jr. "
"Roger was a long time friend of my father's and I have known him for as long as I can remember. I have always had the same love and interest in Hudson River steamboats and Roger was always very willing to answer my questions and to share his photographs. I hope I will be able to remember the stories that he told me about the steamers and men who operated them. It didn't take Sue long to gain an appreciation of our interests and she eventually became office manager of the Steamship Historical Society. She worked with Roger when he was President and shared my friendship with him. Roger was the last of that generation of historians who knew the steamers first hand in the last years of their heyday. I like to think that Roger, my father and Don Ringwald are having a drink and talking boats. Peace. We will miss you. "
"Roger was a wonderful person, Our dad Ralph worked many years for Roger on the Highway Department May God Bless such a caring man Denise & Sharon Wells"
"Roger was truly a remarkable person, a warm and loving uncle, and, most of all, a gentleman in every sense of the word. Having been part of the family for many years, I have some wonderful memories to sustain me after the loss of my husband, Robert, and now, Roger."